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US presidential trips internationally have typically been an chance to demonstrate the strength of the United States on the global scene. Donald Trump's five-day swing through eastern Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the power of the leader – but also, at moments, of that influence's boundaries.

The president's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in satisfying a occasionally volatile American president. It was an acknowledgement that the president, with the flick of a pen, could impose taxes and other measures that have the ability to devastate the economies of export-oriented countries.

His meeting with Chinese leader Xi on Thursday, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of counterparts on the international scene, where the consequences for each country – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their people – were enormous.

With Beijing, the US leader may use his authority, but those steps entail ramifications. They carry a toll.

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For the first four days, Trump's recent foray into world politics was successful.

Each destination was marked by a mix of traditional commercial discussions – agreements made under the shadow of Trump's "reciprocal" duties – and personal accommodations that at moments bordered on the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president gained rights to key materials and made advances toward completing commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also led a agreement that should alleviate frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace agreement" the American president loves to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's Marine One soared near a Tokyo Tower illuminated American colors – with a top in gilded.

Freshly appointed Prime Minister the Japanese leader outlined $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the America and gave the US leader a gift of a quarter-thousand flowering trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a sports gear and case that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the killed former prime minister who bonded with Trump in his initial presidency.

She also became the latest international head to propose the president for his long-sought peace award.

Keeping pace, the Korean government greeted the president with guns firing a traditional greeting and a service ensemble that performed Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the band tune that has become a Trump rally anthem.

Head the Korean president held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he presented the president his nation's highest medal and a copy of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Midday meal with Lee included a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded chocolate squares. Subsequently, the hosts offered the president fine beverage at an intimate dinner in the president's honour with six global figures participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the United States, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" protests by the public who reject his boundary-testing expansions of leader's control, but during his East Asia visit he was handled as monarchy.

And like the rulers of old, Trump visited South Korea demanding tribute – in the form of $two hundred billion in cash payments, $20 billion a annually, from Korea to the US, to be allocated at the guidance of the president's administration. Agreement on the details of those payments assisted in that the duty level on South Korean goods to the US would decrease from 25% to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's regional visit took place in its final hours, however, as he met with Xi.

At that location, the power dynamic between counterparts of the world's two largest economies was noticeably distinct than the interactions Trump had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Missing were all the pomp and the pageantry. Without any service ensembles, no honour guards, missing meticulously designed dining selections celebrating mutual national affection. By contrast, the pair of counterparts and their top aides were seated across a extended light-colored negotiating table in a nondescript armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was possibly a demonstration of the significant risks that when Trump exchanged greetings with Xi in the southern port, he appeared